Loading machine



v LOADING MACHINE Dec. 19, 1944.

D. R. HART LOADING MACHINE Filed Sept l, 1944 4 Sheets-Shag?. 2

D. R. HART LOADING MACHINE Dec. 19, 1944.

Filed Sept. l 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [f7 Ven for,

forney.

Dec. 19,' 1944. D, R HART 2,365,635

LOADING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNiTEo srrrrras PATENT oFFlcE LOADING MACHINE Don Rex Hart, near Worthington, Ind. Application September 1, 1944, Serial Nia-552,261

(ci. 19a- 9) 17 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for loading vehicles such as trucks with aggregate or discrete matter including gravel, sand, coal, soil, or the like, directly from Istock piles thereof, whereby the entire loading operation may be accomplished mechanically without intervention of hand labor. A further object is that the machine may travel under its own power as a unit at desired speeds to different nearby piles to be loaded, or to `piles at distant points involving fast travel over highways, in which case, the invention offers a further advantage in that the machine may travel under low over-passes or low wires across the highway, which would not be possible with loaders of the heretofore conventional design.

l A further primary object of the invention is to prevent costly delays in operation by providing Ameans whereby the loading machine will automatically propel itself forwardly or outwardly from cave in masses sliding down the pile, so-

that the machine does not become buried.

The invention includes a structure which very effectively guides, directs, and feeds the material lonto a loading conveyor belt in quite a facile manner, all in an extremely simplified structure. By use of the invention, no driving chains, sprockets, gears, or the like, are exposed to drop ping gravel or sand which, in normal course of events, vwould otherwise produce abnormal wear,

of legs i2 and I3, hinged at their upper ends at I4, which legs are carried von a forward part of the automobile i i, herein shown as toward the rear end of the hood which normally covers the lill and yet all driving and driven members are readily accessible for maintenance.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description made in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Y Fig. l is a view oi the machine embodying the invention inside elevation;

Fig. 2, a view in rear elevation on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3, a view in top plan;

Fig. di, a diagram of the driving system; and

Fig. 5, a view in vertical section on the line b--t in Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Upon any suitable mobile base, such as the chassis of an automobile or truck as herein shown, the 4entire mechanism comprising the invention is supported so as to be portable. A conveyor frame I0, suiilciently long to extend beyond, ahead of, and to the rear of the automobile, generally designated by the numeralv i i, is rockably mounted on the automobile on a pair driving engine. Then the frame il) is swung rearwardly of those legs by a pair of cables i5 and IS, Fig. 5, from an upper windlass drum il which in turn is revolubly carried across the up- .per ends of standards it and I9 that are fixed by their lower ends to the frame 20 of the automobile iL'the standards i8 and i9 in the present showing being mounted to extend vertically immediately above'the rear axle 2l of the automobile. The drum il may be revolved to wind the cables i5 and it thereon by means of a lever 22 fixed to the windlass at one end. Any degree of elevation of the rear portion of the conveyor framelil may be maintained by dropping the dog 23 against any tooth of the ratchet-wheel 2d, likewise fixed to the windlass drum il.

The conveyor frame lil carries an endless flexible belt 25 to travel longitudinally thereof, wrapping around pulleys at each end,'and by its upper vside or reach riding over central transversely aligned rollers 2t with upwardly inclined side rollers 21 and 2t to cup upwardly the outer marginal portions of the belt 25.

The belt 25 is driven by its forward, upper end by means of a shaft 29 carrying on its outer 'end 'a sprocket 3@ around which extends a drive.

chain 3i which is carried back in spaced relation from and along the side of the conveyor iii frame to a rear driving sprocket 32.

The truck il is provided with the usual and well known power take-off (not shown)` from which extends a driving chain 33 from the power take-off driven shaft 3d, Fig. 4, upwardly to drive a rearwardly extending shaft 35, Figs. 1 and.3. In the present showing, a gear box 36 is interposed between the driving end of the chain 33 and the shaft 35 whereby the drive of that shaft may be interrupted or itsA speed varied as may be desired. In any event the rear end of the shaft dconnects with a gear il, Fig. 4, which in turn is in constant mesh with the gear 38, both gears 31 and 38 being within the housing 3Q to protect them from exposure to foreign matter. The housing 39 is supported to carry a transverse shaft it into another fixed housing M, Fig. 3. and from this housing M on externally thereof to have the driving sprocket 32 iixed thereon. Both housings 39 and 4i are mounted to be carried by the conveyor frame IU in fixed relation thereto. Y

Extending rearwardly from the housing di which is centrally located over the belt 25 is a tubular housing 42 within which extendsa driving shaft 43, Fig. 4, which has a beveled gear 44 on its forward end in constant mesh with a beveled gear 45 on the shaft 40. 'I'his rearwardly extending drive shaft 43 enters the rear gear housing 46 which in turn is supported by the conveyor frame I through laterally extending tubular members 41 and 48 through which extends the transversely disposed shaft 49 that carries a bevel gear 56 xed thereto and in constant mesh with a bevel gear on the rear end of the shaft 43.

The housing 46 is disposed within a hopper generally designated by the numeral 52, through the side walls of which extend the tubular members 41 and 48 as above described. This hopper 52 is mounted on the conveyor frame l0 and the tubular members 41 and 48 by the various support and brace rods as indicated in Fig. 2, upwardly extending rods 53 and 54 tieing between the side walls of the hopper 52 and tubular members 41 and 48; and diagonally disposed members 55, 56 on the one side and 51, 58 on the other side between the tubular members 41 and 48 and the conveyor frame I0.

On-the outer end of the tubular member 41 is mounted a hub 59 to revolve therearound and to have radiating spokes 60 extending outwardly to carry a plurality of buckets generally designated of material upon each revolution, each bucket is set to have the plane of the floor 61 slope upwardly from its open biting edge at an angle of approximately thirty-five degrees from the horizontal when that edge is at its lowermost position of its travel under loading conditions. The material scooped up by the floor 61 would tend to spill ',ver the Wall 'Ill before the bucket arrives over the hopper 52, but the flange 12 extending therefrom not only prevents that spilling but serves to pitch the material forwardly into the hopper even though the bucket is not yet above the hopper.

by the numeral 6I, herein shown as five buckets. j

To insure suicient rigidity connecting bars 62 are fixed to and extend between each pair of buckets 6|. The hub 59, as indicated in Fig. 4, is driven by the shaft 49.-

In like manner a hub 63 is mounted to revolve on the outer end of the tubular member 46 and carries radiating spokes 64 which in turn carry on their outer ends a plurality of buckets65, the same in number as the number of buckets 6|. These buckets 65 are likewise tied together between pairs by the bars 66. lIhe hub 63 is also driven by the shaft 49 4so that both hubs 59 and 63 turn in unison as the shaft 49 is turned.

The buckets 6| and 65 are identical in conformation with the exception that one is a left hand bucket while the other is a right hand bucket. Eachhas a generally ilat floor 61 with upturned sides68 and 69 and also an upturned rear wall 10. From the outer side wall 68 and the rear wall 1U extend inwardly and upwardly directed flanges 1| and 12 respectively.

By suitable rocking of the conveyor frame I0 upon the automobile by manipulating the windlass drum I1, the rear edges of the buckets 6| and 65 may be brought down to the lower level of the stock pile as may be desired so as to enter under the material and fill the buckets as they are carried around in a revolving manner. These buckets are so located in reference to the hopper 52 that when the buckets are carried to upper positions, as best shown in Figs. 2A and 3, the buckets are tilted and finally turned over upside down over the top side of the hopper 52 so as to discharge the contents into the upper open end of the hopper. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the interconnecting spacing bar 62 between buckets 6| and the like bar 66 between buckets 65 revolve around the outwardly extending portions of the hopper 52 while the hub spokes 60 and 64 clear the outer upper end of the hopper 52 to permit full 360 degree travel.

The general shape and functioning of the buckets 6| and 65 are important for good operation. In order that the buckets may pick up a full load plowv '53.

Also, the buckets 6| and 65 must be shaped and positioned to clear a path through the material, not only for the wheels of the truck but also for clearance of the bucket supporting spokes 60 and 64, and since these spokes have to clear the hopper 52, the buckets 6| and 65 extend in part outwardly from the sides of the hopper 52. To prevent spillage of material from these outwardly extending portions of the buckets, the outer, lateral edge of each bucket, slopes inwardly from the wide front biting edge to the back wall 10,

yFig. 2, and the upturned wall 68 extends diagonally inwardly accordingly. The flange 1| overturned from the top edge of the side wall 66, in conjunction with the narrowing of the bucket from its biting edge, serves very eilectively to throw material inwardly toward the hopper as thefbuckets travel thereover. To further aid in causing the buckets to pick up and carry a max`- imum load, the flanges 1| are tapered in height from a maximum (approximately four inches, in one size of buckets) at the open end of the bucket down to a minimum (approximately ltwo inches) at the junction of the flanges 1| with the flange 12. The material starts falling laterally over the floor 61 toward the wall 69 as the bucket starts upwardly in its travel over the hopper 52, the inner wall 69 being suiciently high to prevent spilling laterally thereover.

Between the paths of travel of the series of buckets 6| and 65 is mounted a double moldboard 'I'his plow 13 is fixed to the rear end of the conveyorframe |0 and is so proportioned that its underside will bear against the ground or floor under the stock pile in a plane parallel with 4the edges of the open ends of the buckets 6| and 65 when in their lowermost positions. By reason of the presence of the double moldboard plow 13, after the material has been scooped up by the buckets 6| and 65 within reach thereof, and the truck is backed further toward the pile, the plow 13 will clean up material between the paths of the buckets 6| and 65 so as to not only prevent loss or waste of material but also to aid in filling those buckets as the material may slide down the pile and as the truck may be backed further into the mass. fills in substantially the entire space between the buckets 6| and 65.

In one particular embodiment of the invention, the plow 13 is made to be twenty-three inches wide and the overall width of the path, measured from the outermost corners of the biting edges of the buckets 6| and 65 is sixty-four inches. The general proportion of plow width to path width is one to three.

Il.' the plow 13 be made substantially ,widen then the resistance encountered by pushing it against the material would be too great for traction of the truck wheels to overcome. On the other hand, if the plow 1I be made substantially narrower, and the buckets accordingly wider, the

As indicated in Fig. 2, the plow 13 faster to maintain the same loader capacity, and that faster travel would cause the material to slip on the belt as it discharges from the hopper, resulting in an accumulation of material in the hopper and spillage over the sides of the belt. i

Another important feature is that the lower' edges 8l and 82, Fig. 3, of the sides of the hopper 52 be inclined laterally outwardly in the direction of travel of the belt 25, in order that pressure against the hopper sides of the material thrown into the hopper from the buckets be relieved by the increasingly wider opening as the material moves along the belt under the hopper. This feature prevents squeezing out of the materials between the lower edges of the hopper sides and the belt, these edges being necessarily spaced somewhat above the belt for clearance thereover. Furthermore, any tendency otherwise of the material to pile up or slip on the belt at the hopper bottom is avoided by the above explained bucket design which causes the material to be thrown into 4the hopper to strike the belt thereunder withan initial movement in the same direction as the belt travels, so that the material is already in forward motion when picked up by the belt. The material, thus initially started, is carried on up the flexible belt 25 which is travelling upwardly and forwardly therefrom. By reason of the cupped cross-sectional shape of the pile.

belt 25 betweenvthe hopper -52 and its upper end, the loosematerial will be carried on up the conveyor on the belt 25 without side spillage and be dropped over the upper forward end thereof into any truck or vehicle as may be placed thereunder, or even onto a pile if so desired. l i

It may happen that the ground or floor over which the -automobile Il must traverse during the loading operation may be uneven or not level, which might cause, for example, the buckets 65 to engage the pile of material at its bottom while the buckets 6I engage the pile at a point substantially above the bottom, whereby all material below such point would remain on the ground. In order to overcome that difficulty, a post 14 is flxedto the axle 2| of the automobile and receives, by a threaded upper end, one end of a turnbuckle 15 which in turn screw-threadedly engages an upper rod 16' that is supported through the diagonally positioned members 11 and 18 fixed to the side of the standard I9. To

permit easy yturning of the turnbuckle 15, a hand wheel 19 is fixed thereto. herein shown as at its upper end. By running this turnbuckle up and down on the post 14 and reversely on the member 16, the conveyor frame I0 will be tilted laterally in respect to the axle 2l by forcibly flexing or by partially releasing the spring suspension, herein' shown as a single transverse spring 80, of the automobile by rocking of the automobile frame 20 to which the standard I9 is xed. In this manner, the axle 49 housing members 41 and 48 which are mounted in fixed relation to the frame Ill, can be tilted either way in relation to the axle 2| of the automobile, and both sets 'y of buckets 6| and B5 can under all ground conditions be brought to engage the pile Aof materials at its base.

, In operation the loader has the conveyorV rocked to have the hopper end -lifted and held up during transportation to the site of loading, and the speed of. transportation is only limited v to that of thel automobile Il. Upon reaching the loading site, the automobile is backed up to the material pile and the hopper end of the conveyor is lowered and the bucket orbits adjusted to theI ground or floor contour by manipulating the hand wheel '59, to bring the bucket biting edges to the lowermost part of the pile. The buckets are then set into motion, and the automobile slowly backed toward the pile to have the buckets scoop under l While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one precise form, it is to be understood that mechanical changes may be made, particularly in the specific driving mechanisms of the mountings of the various members, all without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

Iclaim:

, 1. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination, a portable vehicle; a conveyor mounted on the vehicle; a hopper over one end portion of the conveyor and mounted in fixed position relative thereto; a shaft positioned transversely of the conveyor; a plurality of buckets; means driven by said shaft to one side of said hopper to carry a part of said buckets at constant radial distances from the shaft; means driven by said shaft at the other side of said hopper to carry the other of said buckets at constant radial distances from said shaft; said buckets in each instance being positioned to travel in a path extending over the top of said hopper; and means mounted between the two groups of buckets to move material into the paths thereof below said hopper.

2. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination, a portable Vehicle; a conveyor mounted on the vehicle; a hopper over one end portion of the conveyor and mounted ,in fixed position relativethereto; a shaft positioned transversely of the conveyor; a plurality of buckets; means driven by said shaft to one side of said hopper to carry a part of said buckets at constant radial distances from the shaft; means driven by said shaft at the other side of said hopper-to carry the other of said buckets at constant radial distances from shaft; said buckets in each instance being positioned to travel in a path extending over the top of said hopper; and means mounted between the two groups of buckets to move material into the paths thereof below said hopper; means for longitudinally tilting said conveyor in relation to said vehicle to vary the elevation of said bucket paths and said material carrying means.

of below said hopper; and means for transversely rocking said bucket carrying means in relation to said vehicle.

4. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination, a portable vehicle; a conveyor mounted on the vehicle; a hopper over one end portion of the conveyor and mounted in xed position relative thereto; a shaft positioned transversely of the conveyor; a plurality of'buckets; means driven by said shaft to one side of said hopper to carry a part of said buckets at constant radial distances from the shaft; means driven by said shaft at the other side of said hopper to carrythe other of said buckets at constant radial distances from said shaft; said buckets in each instance being positioned to travel in a path extending over the top of said hopper; and means mounted between the two groups of buckets to move material into the paths thereof below said hopper; a power drive unit carried by the vehicle for self-propulsion; and a drive system between said unit, said conveyor and said shaft.

5. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination, a portable vehicle; a conveyor mounted on the vehicle; a hopper over one end portion of the conveyor and mounted in xed position relative thereto; a shaftpositioned transversely of the conveyor; a plurality of buckets; means driven by said shaft to one side of said hopper to carry a part of said buckets at constant radial distances from the shaft; means driven by said shaft at the other side of said hopper to carry the other of said buckets at constant radial distances from said shaft; said buckets in each instance being positioned to travel in a path extending over the top of said hopper; means mounted between the two groups of buckets to move material into the paths thereof below said hopper; each of said buckets being in.

V the nature of a scoop open on the material receiving side with a substantially straight entering floor edge and at least an overhanging outer side and back wall to retain material until the bucket in each instance approaches a position over said hopper.

6. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination, a portable vehicle; a, conveyor mounted on the vehicle; a hopper over one end portion of the conveyor and mounted in xed position relative thereto; a shaft positioned transversely of the conveyor; a plurality of buckets; meansdriven by said shaft to one side of said hopper to carry a part of said buckets at constant radial distances from the shaft; means driven by said shaft at the other side of said hopper to carry the other of said buckets at constant radial distances from said shaft; said buckets in eachinstance being positioned to travel in a path extending over the top of said hopper; means mounted between the two groups of buckets to move material into the paths thereof below said hopper; a power drive unit carried by the vehicle for self-propulsion; and a drive system between said unit, said conveyor and said shaft; said conveyor comprising a frame and anendlessvbelt carried thereby; said drive system also operating said belt.

7. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination, a portable vehicle; a conveyor mounted on the vehicle; a hopper over one end portion of the conveyor and mounted in fixed position relative thereto; a shaft positioned transversely of the conveyor; a plurality of buckets;

means driven by said shaft to one side of saidI hopper to carry a part of said buckets at constant radial distances from the shaft; means driven by said shaft at the other side of said hopper to carry the other of said buckets at constant radial distances from said shaft; said buckets. in each instance being positioned to travel inva path extending over the top of said hopper; means mounted between the two groups of buckets to move material into the paths thereof below said hopper; a power drive unit carried by the vehicle for self-propulsion; and a drive system between said unit, said conveyor and said shaft; said conveyor comprising a frame and an endless belt carried thereby; said drive system also operating said belt; said material moving means comprising a double moldboard plow carried by said conveyor frame to be raised anc lowered therewith.

8. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination, a portable vehicle; a conveyor mounted on the vehicle; a hopper over one end portion of the conveyor and mounted in fixed position relative thereto; a shaft positioned transversely .of the conveyor; a plurality of buckets; means driven by said shaft to one side of said hopper to carry a part of said buckets at constant radial distances from the shaft; means driven by said shaft at the other side of said hopper to carry the other of said buckets at constant radial distances from said shaft; said buckets in each instance being positioned to travel'in a path extending over the top of said hopper; means mounted between the two groups of buckets to move material 4into the paths thereof below said hopper; each of said buckets being in the nature of a scoop open on the material receiving side with a substantially straight entering floor edge and at least an overhanging outer side and back wall to retain material until the bucket in each instance approaches a position over said hopper; said bucket oor edge extending laterally in each instance beyond said hopper to define through said material in conjunction with said material moving means, therebetween a path at least as wide as said vehicle.

9. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination, a portable vehicle; a conveyor mounted on the vehicle; a hopper over one end portion of the conveyor and mounted in fixed position relative thereto; a shaft positioned transversely of the conveyor; a plurality of buckets; means driven by. said shaft to one side of said hopper to carry a part of said buckets at constant radial distances from the shaft; means driven by said shaft at the other side of said hopper to carry the other of said buckets at constant radial distances from said shaft; said buckets in each instance being positioned to travel in a path extending over the top of said hopper; means mounted between the two groups of buckets to move material into the paths thereof below said hopper; each of said buckets being in the nature of a scoop open on the material receiving side with a substantially straight entering door edge and at least an overhanging outer side and back wall to retain material until the bucket in each instance approaches a position over said hopper; said bucket iloor edge extending laterally in each instancel beyond said hopper to define through said material in Yconjunction with said material moving means, therebetween a path at least as wide as said vehicle; the outer wall and oor of each of said buckets being inclined from said edge to the back wall thereof to direct scooped up material inwardly over tbe bucket floor as the buckets travel upwardly, wherebysaid material is pitched inwardly and forwardly into said hopper as the inner portions of the buckets come over the hopper, to have the material thrown in the same direction of travel as that of the conveyor under the hopper.

'10; A bulk material loading machine comprisi ing in combination, a portable vehicle; a conveyor mounted on the vehicle; a hopper over one end portion of the conveyor and mounted in fixed position relative thereto; a shaft positioned transv versely of the conveyor; a plurality of buckets: means driven by said shaft to one side of said hopper to carry a part of said buckets at constant radial distances from the` shaft; means driven by said sh'aftgat the other side of said hopper to .carry theA other of said buckets at constant radial distances from said shaft; said buckets in each instance being positioned to travel in a path extending over the top of said hopper; means mounted between the two groups of buckets to move material into the paths thereof below said hopper; each of said buckets being in the nature of a scoop open on the material receiving side with a substantially straight entering i'loor edge and at least an overhanging outer side and back wall to retain material until the bucket in each instance approaches .a'position over said hopper; said bucket floor edge extending laterally in each instance beyond said hopper to define through said material in conjunction with said material moving means, therebetween a path at least ,as wide as said vehicle; the outer wall and floor of each of said bucketsbeing inclined from said edge to the back Wall thereof to direct scooped up material inwardly over the bucket iloor as the buckets travel upwardly. whereby said material is pitched inwardly and forwardly into said hopper as the inner portions of the buckets come over the hopper, to have the material thrown in the same direction of travel as that of the conveyor under the hopper; said hopper having rear and side walls defining a lower opening therefrom wider at the end from which said-conveyor leaves than at the conveyor approaching e d.

11. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination a self-pro' lled vehicle; a conveyor having an upper reac to travel longitudinally over the vehicle; means mounting the conveyor on the vehicle to be rockable longitudinally thereof whereby theforwardconveyor end may be raised and lowered, and the rear end simultaneously vlowered and raised; a ,hopper mounted over a rear portion of said conveyor to be lifted and lowered therewith, and having an underside discharge opening directed toward the conveyor; a plurality of buckets mounted on'each side ofsaid hopper to travel about a common axis in respective, substantially vertically aligned orbits wherein a portion of each bucket may travel over the top side of the hopper, said axis being vertically shiftable with said'conveyor raising and lowering; traction members on said vehicle; exible means between said traction members and said conveyor mounting means; and means for rocking said bucket axis through said flexible means whereby one of said bucket orbits may be relatively lifted and lowered in respect to the other independently of said rocking of the conveyor. 12. Al bulk material loading machine comprising in combination a self-propelled vehicle; a conveyor having an upper reach to travel longitudinallybver the vehicle; means mounting the conveyor on the vehicle to be rockable longitudinally thereof whereby the forward conveyor end' may be raised and lowered, and the rear end simultaneously lowered and raised; a hopper mounted over a rear portion of said conveyor to be lifted and lowered therewith, and having an underside discharge opening directed toward the conveyor; a plurality of buckets mounted on each conveyor; each of 1 said buckets'having a biting edge, the distance between the outer ends of which in the two orbits denes a path through the material being loaded equal at least to that between said vehicle traction members. 13. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination a self-propelled vehicle; a

conveyor having an upper reach to travel longitudinally over the vehicle; means mounting the conveyor on the vehicle to be rockable longitudinally thereof whereby the forward conveyor end maybe raised and lowered, and the rear end simultaneously lowered and raised; a hopper mounted over a rear portion of said conveyor to be lifted and lowered therewith, and having lan underside discharge opening directed toward the conveyor; a plurality of buckets mounted on each side of said hopper to travel about a common axis in respective, substantially vertically aligned orbits wherein a. portion of each bucket may travel over the top side of the hopper, said axis being vertically shiftable with said conveyor. raising and lowering; traction members on said vehicle; flexible means between said traction mem-V bers and said conveyor mountingmeans; and means for rocking said bucket axis through said flexible means whereby one of said bucket orbits may be relatively lifted and lowered in respect to the other independently of said rocking of theconveyor; each of said buckets having a bitingv edge, the distance between the outer ends of which in these two orbits defines a path through the material being loaded equal at least to that between said vehicle traction members; a plow distance.

14, A bulk material loading machine compris-V ing in combination a self-propelled vehicle; a

' conveyorhaving an upper reach to travel longitudinally over the vehicle; means mounting the conveyor on the vehicle to-be rockable longitudinally thereof whereby the forward conveyor end may be raised and lowered, and the rear end simultaneously lowered and raised; a hopper mounted over a rear portion of said conveyor to be lifted and lowered therewith, and having an underside discharge opening directed toward the conveyor; a plurality of buckets mounted on each side of said hopper to travel about a common axis .in respective,substantially vertically aligned orin the two orbits defines a path through the material being loaded equal at least to that between said vehicle traction members; a plow mounted between said bucket orbits to have its under side follow substantially the lowermost line reached by said bucket edges, and having a width substantially filling the space between the innermost sides of the buckets inthe two orbits; said width being substantially one-third that of said distance, and means simultaneously driving said buckets with said conveyor to revolve the buckets in their uppermost positions in the same direction of travel as that of said conveyor reach.

l5. A bulk material loading machine comprising in combination a self-propelled vehicle; a conveyor having an upper reach to travel longitudinally over the vehicle; means mounting the conveyor on the vehicle to be rockable longitudinally thereof whereby the forward conveyor end may be raised and lowered, and the rear end. simultaneously lowered and raised; a,- hopper mounted over a rear portion of said conveyor to be lifted and lowered therewith, and having an undesired discharge opening directed toward the conveyor; a, plurality of buckets mounted on each side of said hopper to travel about a common axis in respective, substantially vertically aligned l, orbits wherein a portion of each bucket may travel over the top side of the hopper, said axis being vertically shiftable with said conveyor raising and lowering traction members on said vehicle; exible means between said traction members and said conveyor mounting means; and means for rocking said bucket axis through said flexible means whereby one of said bucket orbits may be relatively lifted and lowered in respect to the other independently of said rocking of the conveyor; each of said buckets having a biting edge, the distance between the outer ends of which in the two orbits denes a path through the material being loaded equal at least to that between said vehicle traction members; a plow mounted between said bucket orbits to have its under side follow substantially the lowermost line reached by said bucket edges, and having a width substantially filling the space between the innerof travel.

most sides of the buckets in the two orbits; said width being substantially one-third that of said distance; and means simultaneously driving said buckets with said conveyor to revolve the buckets in their uppermost positions in the same direction of travel as that of said conveyor reach; said bucket biting edges extending by outer ends laterally beyond said hopper; and means carried' by said -buckets to directmaterial scooped up by the buckets inwardly laterally thereof into the hopper as the buckets ascend and travel there- A over.

16. A machine for loading materials from stock piles and the like comprising a self-propelled ve- Vhicle having traction members; a frame extending longitudinally thereover from rear to front; a conveyor mounted on said frame; a vehicle chassis spring mounted on said traction members; means hinging said frame to said chassis; means for longitudinal rocking of the frame about said .hinging means; means for lateral rocking of said orbits, through which the lsides of the hopper extend in part at least; and means for driving said buckets and conveyor in the same direction 17. A machine for loading materials from stock piles and the like comprising a self-propelled vehicle having traction members; a frame extending longitudinally thereover from rear to front; a conveyor mounted on said frame; a vehicle chassis spring mounted on said traction members; means hinging said frame to said chassis; means for longitudinal rocking of the frame about said hinging means; means for lateral rocking of said chassis relative to said traction members; a hopper mounted `on said frame over said conveyor to discharge thereon; a plurality of buckets on each side of said hopper; means revolubly mounting the buckets about a common axis, circumferentially spaced apart at a common radial distance from the axisto have the buckets opening rearwardly with iloors extending from biting edges forwardly and upwardly when those buckets are at their normal lowermost positions for scooping up said material, said bucket mounting means positioning the buckets to travel respectively in orbits, through which the sides of the hopper extend in part at least; and means for driving said buckets and conveyor in the same direction of travel; said angle of inclination of said bucket floors being substantially thirty-live degrees with the horizontal; and means carried by said buckets for directing material from the lateral outer portions of said buckets inwardly over said hopper.

DON REX HART. 

